Defect induced melting of vortices in high-${\mathbf{T}}_{\mathbf{c}}$ superconductors: A model based on continuum elasticity theory

Abstract

We set up a melting model for vortex lattices in high-temperature superconductors based on the continuum elasticity theory. The model is Gaussian and includes defect fluctuations by means of a discrete-valued vortex gauge field. We derive the melting temperature of the lattice and predict the size of the Lindemann number. Our result agrees well with experiments for ${\mathrm{YBa}}_2{\mathrm{Cu}}_3{\mathrm{O}}_{7-\delta }$, and with modifications also for ${\mathrm{Bi}}_2{\mathrm{Sr}}_2\mathrm{Ca}{\mathrm{Cu}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_8$ . We calculate the jumps in the entropy and the magnetic induction at the melting transition.

7 pages, 2 figures, typos corrected, Extended final version published in PRB

References in corpus (6)

• Observation of a Triangular to Square Flux Lattice Phase Transition in YBCO
• Equilibrium First-Order Melting and Second-Order Glass Transitions of the Vortex Matter in Bi${}_2$Sr${}_2$CaCu${}_2$O${}_8$
• Effect of pinning on the vortex-lattice melting line in type-II superconductors
• Triangular Lattice Model of 2D Defect Melting
• Amorphous Vortex Glass Phase in Strongly Disordered Superconductors
• Defect Melting Models for Cubic Lattices and Universal Laws for Melting Temperatures

Cited by in corpus (4)

• The Ginzburg-Landau Theory of Type II superconductors in magnetic field
• Theory of vortex-lattice melting in a one-dimensional optical lattice
• Phase Diagram of Vortices in High-Tc Superconductors from Lattice Defect Model with Pinning
• Phase Diagram of Vortices in High-T_c Superconductors with a Melting Line in the deep H_{c2} Region